novelty

American  

[nov-uhl-tee] / ˈnɒv əl ti /

noun

plural

novelties

1. state or quality of being novel, new, or unique; newness.

   the novelty of a new job.

2. a novel occurrence, experience, or proceeding.

   His sarcastic witticisms had ceased being an entertaining novelty.

3. an article of trade whose value is chiefly decorative, comic, or the like and whose appeal is often transitory.

   a store catering to tourists who loaded up with souvenir pennants and other novelties.

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adjective

1. Textiles.

   1. (of a weave) consisting of a combination of basic weaves.

   2. (of a fabric or garment) having a pattern or design produced by a novelty weave.

   3. (of yarn) having irregularities within the fibrous structure.

2. of or relating to novelties as articles of trade.

   novelty goods; novelty items.

3. having or displaying novelties.

   novelty shop.

novelty British  

/ ˈnɒvəltɪ /

noun

1. 1. the quality of being new and fresh and interesting

   2. ( as modifier )

      novelty value

2. a new or unusual experience or occurrence

3. (often plural) a small usually cheap new toy, ornament, or trinket

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Etymology

Origin of novelty

1350–1400; Middle English novelte < Middle French novelete < Late Latin novellitās newness. See novel ², -ity

Explanation

Novelty is a newness or refreshing quality. Many college freshmen enjoy the novelty of living on their own — until it comes time to do that first load of laundry. You'll often hear people talk about the novelty of a new experience — imagine the excitement and anticipation of cracking open a novel you’ve never read before to help remember the word. But novelty is also a term for a small toy or trinket, usually mass-produced. Novelty shops sell all kinds of funny knickknacks, from personalized flashlight key chains to stuffed singing hamsters.

Example Sentences

Eventually known as teddy bears, the toys, which the couple sold out of their Bedford-Stuyvesant shop, were so popular that Michtom abandoned the candy business and founded the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

Novelty straw caps shaped like berries, cowboy hats, clouds, and flowers.

From Slate • Jul. 29, 2024

Novelty aside, experiences of wartime society informed his peacetime works of societal and community tensions in a changing world.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2024

Novelty scores also shot up after 2016–2017 from humans introducing new moves into games earlier during the game play sequence.

From Scientific American • Mar. 13, 2023

Novelty and variety are the spells of early life, and to work these well and helpfully is the greatest good that can be done to young people.

From Maria Edgeworth by Zimmern, Helen

Related Words

• freshness
• innovation
• oddity
• uniqueness